In a society where black men are often bashed for playing a lackluster or nonexistent role in their child’s life, two 14-year-old entrepreneurs attribute their success to their fathers.

With only six days separating the two in age, Jordan Williams and business partner Brandon Iverson live the expression ‘like father like son’. “We came together because we saw our dads create their own successful businesses,” explained Iverson.

Their fathers worked together as financial advisors at the same network marketing company and immersed the two with insight on how to make money work for them. Having active role models, Williams and Iverson were taught concepts of money, the importance of saving and were even included in business meetings.

Like most kids who possess an insatiable desire for toys, clothes and games, they grew tired of asking their parents for money. As a result, at the mind-blowing age of 10, they embarked on their first joint venture and created Kids Toys Inc. Utilizing the knowledge passed along from their fathers, they proudly earned extra money and could finally afford to buy what they wanted.

Success felt good for the two and motivated them to dig a little deeper and learn more about the wonders of money. Whether searching online, reading a magazine or participating in webinars, they soaked up knowledge like a wild cherry flavored Capri Sun after an exhausting day at the playground.

Capitalizing off their prior success as preteens, Williams and Iverson developed Making Money for Teens (MMFT). This financial education company teaches teens about good money making habits, investing and how to start your own business as a teenager.

“We created Making Money For Teens so we can give teens information they don’t usually learn in school systems,” Williams explained. “We still don’t have business or entrepreneurship classes in school and that information is actually really valuable as we get older and enter adult life.”

The dynamics of MMFT is powered off each other’s strength. Between Williams’ budding expertise in marketing and Iverson’s technological savviness, MMFT has continually grown and prospered. A component of success for the two is the mutual respect and high-regard they share for another. “Brandon is good at understanding things I sometimes don’t understand,” Williamson proclaimed.

Jordan Williams and Brandon Iverson delivering a presentation at the Tom Joyner Family Reunion in Central Florida.

Sharing the stage with Les Brown and Omarosa at the Tom Joyner Family Reunion––jitters of public speaking dissipated. “When we speak, getting to see how people really appreciate what we’re doing keeps us motivated,” Williams began. “I can tell we’re really making an impact in their lives. We’re actually doing something that is really beneficial not for ourselves, but for other teens future.”

Remembering these prodigies are only in the ninth grade, establishing a disciplined schedule covering extracurricular activities, homework, running a business and speaking engagements, makes the importance of time management an understatement.

“Running our business makes life more exciting and fun,” says Williams. “While we’re running our business, we definitely are regular 14-year-old kids. We play basketball, we hangout with our friends and go to school every day.”